Random thoughts on indigenous languages
By
Sat Jul 03 2021
In furtherance of last week’s conversation on this page, which focused on the need for decolonizing African psyche, this column today looks at how government, the media and native speakers of indigenous languages in Nigeria are helping to under-develop mother-tongues. While the impact of the media may be linked to modern technology, government weak response and the lackadaisical attitude of native speakers cannot be isolated from colonial influence. Some colonial policies particularly in the education sector have, no doubt, had far-reaching consequences on the socio-cultural heritage of Nigerians in terms of indigenous languages.